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Storm Signal No. 1 could be hoisted in Metro Manila this weekend as Typhoon Dodong (Noul) threatens Northern and Central Luzon, weather bureau PAGASA said Friday.As of 10 a.m. Friday, the center of the typhoon was located 480 kilometers east northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar and moving west northwest at 17 kph. The typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez said there is a possibility that the typhoon will not make landfall but noted that the country will still be affected since the storm has a 300 km radius.
He said there is also a possibility that the typhoon will affect Metro Manila.
“If the storm continues in its current speed and direction, ang pinakamataas na storm signal na pwedeng itaas ay Storm Signal Number 1,” he told reporters.
“Kung hindi man po, pwede pa rin maaapektuhan ang Metro Manila. Posibleng maging maulap na may light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms,” he added.
Public Storm Warning Signal no. 1 is currently hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Polillo Island in Luzon, and Northern Samar in the Visayas.
PAGASA said storm warning signals could be raised over the provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Rizal, Quezon and Nueva Ecija by 5 p.m.
Dodong is the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines this year. An average of 20 typhoons cross the archipelago annually with Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) the most destructive in recent years, leaving more than 8,000 people dead or injured in 2013.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it was alerting regional and provincial authorities to make preparations, including stockpiling food, water and medicines and readying temporary shelter areas. —with Reuters
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
Photo: PAGASA
